The Colossus of its Field
The aspect of the game that hit me most was that it transcended the mould of FPS in such an accomplished way. Previous to DE, I had a very rigid concept of what a shooter could be. The genre itself seemed to have stalled, perhaps reaching its self imposed limitations. The vast pool of FPS’s was filled with numberless clones that seemed to have only the smallest difference between them. DE totally eliminated these boundaries. It redefined what a FPS could be. It seemed to be a strange amalgamation of RPG elements and generic shooting, but done in such a clever way that it felt like a natural progression. It was a breath of fresh air. It smoothly incorporated features that were quite alien to the genre: intricate branching story, deep character interaction, multiple endings, side quests, upgradeable abilities, alterable character skills, item inventory. And the mere notion of being able to complete a shooting game without actually shooting anyone was totally unfathomable.
The game itself, as you may already have determined, is wondrous. The player has the ability to craft their character into whatever they want, having control over what skills they wish to upgrade and weapons they are to specialize with. You also have the ability to add augmentations to your body which allow you to perform inhuman actions. This adds a whole level of dimension to the game. The environments themselves are designed so that there is always an alternative route the player can take. This is good for replay value as the consequences of following a particular path can change the course of game. The levels are also varied and extensive and are great fun to explore. The shooting elements, characters, interaction and general game ambience is perfect. The other exceptional thing about the game is the story. It is simply top notch, worthy of a novel or movie. The writers have created a whole alternative future. Conspiracies, twist and turns, lies, deceit – it’s all there.
The sound and graphics were at the time of release quite top notch. The game has full voice acting all the way through, and believe me there is a lot of it! The music is also very memorable too, and you’ll find yourself humming many of the games tunes without knowing. The graphics are by today’s standards quite dated, but still terribly playable, Plus, it would be a travesty to overlook the game on such superficial account.
To sum up, Deus Ex can justly be labeled a classic game. It was a pinnacle in my gaming experience, and one that will always hold a place in my heart. Buy this game, it will not disappoint.